Interior design tips, please!

[AlexaShutUp]

I often go to friends' houses and think their living rooms look so coordinated and well put together. I'm always slightly embarrassed by my own house, which just feels like a weird mish-mash of stuff without any sense of style.

Does anyone have any good tips for dressing a room nicely, preferably without spending a fortune in the process?

....please?!

Lighting and light is important. As is lack of clutter. Have you any photos of your room you would be happy to show us?

Don't really want to post photos, as it's potentially outing. Sorry, I know it would be much easier to help if I did.

I have been gradually trying to declutter and think we're nearly there with that - just a couple more areas to tackle.

I think the lighting could definitely be improved, perhaps I should look at that. We just have the main lights and some side lights on the wall, so perhaps some strategically placed lamps would help.

It's a longish room, fairly narrow. Small alcove with the TV in it. Quite a nice log burner with mantelpiece. Big window at front which gets the morning sun. French doors at back which look out onto our rather boring and somewhat neglected garden.

The room currently houses 2 sofas at one end, at right angles to each other, with the TV alcove opposite one. There is a coffee table in front of the sofas. The other end of the room houses a very compact desk and our desktop computer, printer etc, plus some shelves with files of paperwork (DH mostly works from home). There are also three tallish bookshelves - it's a bit cramped but we have nowhere else to put these, have already decluttered and got rid of a lot.

There is a door from the hall at the front of the room, next to the TV alcove. Then the other end of the room is open plan into the dining area of the kitchen.

It sounds lovely. It’s nice to have a mix of old and new items and different fabrics and textiles I think. A feature picture / painting. Rugs?

Yeah, I definitely need more on the walls, but no idea how to choose a feature painting. I'm crap at stuff like that. Am determined to do a bit more with family photos too - it's just a mish mash at the moment but would like a more "curated" look!

A rug is a good idea, the carpet probably needs replacing but can't really afford to do that at present.

Just go to a picture shop and choose something you like the look of. Get it put in a decent frame. The picture should probably have warm colours in it to make your room homely. Actually, if you’re on a budget try charity shops for pictures.

Yes, charity shops are a good idea. Just not very confident about choosing something that would look good!

It doesn’t matter too much what would look good. It’s what you like to look at as it’s your house! Or you could try local artists as a feature / talking point. Local photographers? Do you live in a town / city with i.e. a big church or something that you could get a photo or painting of?

Have you a colour scheme?
If you chose one you could make a feature of it. Or pain the alcove white and an other contrasting wall colour.

Continue the clear out.
Move or lose the extra book shelves if it is too cluttered.

Lamps need not be expensive but give a lovely cosy light.

Less is more.

You would be very surprised what you might pick up in charity shops if you keep an eye out.

Similar picture frames give further cohesion to a scheme.

I had a large beautiful painting of the sea that I loved but the big dark frame wasn't great. It was a gorgeous frame though. By simply painting the frame carefully with several coats of silver paint I completely transformed it.

So keep that in mind when looking out for inexpensive pictures.

Discover you own style by looking up decoration sites.

Good luck.

I pinch a lot of my ideas from magazines and online decor sites like Houzz. Often the tweaks to make a difference are quite small and inexpensive. Charity shops are good, but for real fun, try an auction, it's amazing what you can pick up cheaply. Go and view before the auction day and examine any potential purchases for damage, worm etc.
I would agree with other pp's, in that clutter does not form part of an interior design plan. It's very much a case of 'less is more'. Also lighting can really improve a room. I have some cheap uplighters (from Wayfair) on top of a bookcase which produce a lovely diffuse light.

To add to my last, I have just put these up in my kitchen, and they are from Poster lounge. I love modern style art and my downstairs colour scheme tends to be mosty ochre, white and fairly pale wood. I have a lot of modern/abstract art, none of it original or expensive.

@longearedbat
Both lovely pops of colour.

Following. DH and I were having the same conversation yesterday.

You might find this blog helpful! It gives lots of tips for the basic principles of interior design, for whatever room you are designing.

decorbuddi.com/the-principle-concepts-of-interior-design/

I love having different textures so think about your soft furnishings and have different textures through curtains, cushions, throws.
I love a faux fur throw but might not be up everyone’s street